Scorecard

Bayford and Hertford 2nd XI v Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club 3rd XI on Sat 19 May 2012 at 1:00Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club Won By 8 runs

Match report

After an early morning phone call from Mr Levey to make his apologies we went to Bayford and Hertford with just 10 men and nobody would have predicted what happened next. I lost the toss and was unsurprisingly asked to bat first on what was a green, wet, slow pitch with a soggy outfield to match.

Leemondo and Joe opened the batting and were both gone quickly, both falling to Davies. However, this brought first Bowls and then Burs to the crease and the pair played brilliantly. They stuck around on a difficult wicket, put away the bad ball and put us in a good position. Bowls, depite it being his first knock of the season showed his class with a well made 37 before he was out to what he described as "probably the worst ball he faced". Bowls' departure brought Gary to the crease as he made an aggresive 14. Burs continued his good early season form and passed 50 and added 10 more to his score before being bowled by their 1st XI player who apparetly is to selfish to be in the first team. Red-inkers from myself and Hibbsy managed to get the score up to 148 which was a very competitive score on that wicket.

I reply, I opened up with James Wair first of all and after his first ball was called wide, his first legitimate ball was a rank long hop that was cut to point where Joe Rickett took a super catch to get rid of Brooks. Matt Gostling opened up from the other end and didn't have to wait too long before picking up his first wicket, getting their skipper caught behind for just 1. James and Matt continued to keep it tight throughout the rest of their spell. The end of two fine spells brought the start of two more as Gary came on and does what he does, bowls tightly and gets wickets. The first to go to the seasoned campaigner, searching for 1000 sawbo wickets this year was Korpis and then he got the clubs Mr Selfish trapped plumb in front for 21. Matt Billings was the only bowler to finish the innings wicketless but he continues to impress at 3rd XI level and with him and Ben Waring only being 14, the club has a bright future if they play two spinners in the 1st XI. His figures of 10-3-24-0 are very good for a young lad and he showed what an important member of the team he is. Hibbsy had quite a quiet day but still managed to get a wicket. And they were 5 down when I decided to re-introduce Matt and James to teh attack. Each got two more wickets to finsh with 3 a piece by the end of the game. Matt picked up Newall for 9 and then Wilkins to another brilliantly catch by Joe Rickett. James Wair then picked up Poulton to leave them 8 down. Then a little bit of confusion as I was informed that Matt Gostling had bowled out his allotted overs, so after assessing the options I thought it was time for a few overs of dibbly dobbly inswing from myself and it brought a wicket 1st ball. Number 10 and 11 threatened to take the game home for their side and when the needed 10 from 3 overs everyone knew that there was going to be a result and the 3 balls later James Wair finished the game as it started with a long hop that was hit in the air straight to me at cover to give us an 8 run win.

Well done boys, a well-deserved victory and good to get the first win of the season under our belts. Hopefully, we can build on this at home to County Hall next week.